Any thoughts when the rear air bags should be replaced?
1988 345 with 66,000 miles. They look brittle where they make the 180 degree turn up. At the moment I am trouble shooting the system as they quit inflating this week.

I am in the process of needing to do the same thing. My understanding is the Airbags are still being made. The only hurdle is the fact that the Airbags are currrently being produced, there are none in stock nationwide. If I can I will get the numbers posted so you can order new ones, later today.

If you need any of the part numbers let me know, I have a copy of the original book.

I sure would appreciate any information on which ones to get and where to get them. Can you suggest where I can get the instructions on doing the change out. Are there any tricks or problems I should know about. I hate learning everything the hard way.

if my memory hasnt failed . on the top of the bags is two nuts and the air line and on the bottom is a long bolt that has to be removed. and they should slide out . of course you need to jack and block the frame up so it dont fall on you. lol
al

forgot to mention take one out and take it to fleet pride or any heavy duty truck parts center. they are made by firestone and the part number is on the bag. fleet pride has the inventory for all their stores on line and if they have the part in tim buck tu they ship to the store that request it or they can order from firestone. if you buy from a airstream dealer you might plan to part with some extra bucks. lol
al

The 1978 Argosy 28 MH we just purchased came with all original documentation. Included is the booklet from Firestone with all the part numbers.

I called Firestone Industrial Products at 800-888-0650. They confirmed that my part number is correct for a 1977 P30 chassis. Additionally, they gave me an alternate part number for the same item that might be available through heavy duty truck support.

The bags will not be available from Firestone until 7/15/03 or later. They are in a production run now, and that is a estimate on a ship date.

Cost is 131.41 each from Fleetpride.

There is a bag that could be used if you were in a jam, but it has a 2 inch shorter overall height. It is made by Goodyear and is Fleetpride # 5328. I would not reccomend it as a permenant replacement due to the fact that it will more than likely have to be at 100% inflation to get the coach near to normal ride height. But is you are in a jam something is better than nothing.

Thanks guys for all your input.
I can not figure out why the bags did not inflate Saturday. After connecting my own air compressor to the system and removing the coach compressor the system pumped up just fine. When I put the coach air compressor back on line the pressure continued to hold up. Maybe a relief valve hung up somewhere. The bags looked good when they were inflated vs deflated. Guess I will wait a while longer before replacing them.

you probably had a stuck check valve. dont know why they wouldn t pump us unless your compressor is shot. would think it would pump up and then leak down . or the leveling valve was stuck open would more likeliy the problem.lol
al

I did have one side of the coach jacked up with the tires off the ground in the rear. Maybe that caused the leveling valve to have an issue for awhile. Where is that valve by the way?
My system had approx 80 pounds in it but the dash indicator was on the border between red and green. Where is the 9 inch measurement supposed to be taken to determine if the bags are at proper height?

The leveling valves are mounted either on the frame behind the air bags, or you may only have one in the rear center. Depends on model year. Just follow the funny rod that is behind the bags to the valve on the frame.

If you had the rear tire off the ground, but the jacking point was the frame, the hanging axle would cause the valve to dump air. I do not know if it is necessary to have the key on for the dump valve to open or not.

I have been told the actual inch measurement is at the bottom of the rear bumper while on level ground. Some years were different, so the 9 inches may be right, or could be wrong.

The 76 model did not come with factory air bags at all. Many owners add the front inner coil types and some will add "helper" ones in the rear to smooth out the ride. If you have fittings in the rear that would make me think you have rear aftermarket ones. If they were installed up front sometimes they put a fitting in the grill. Others just have the valve sticking out of the bottom of the front coil spring.